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Enhanced Skills Program: Palliative Care 12 Month Program

Palliative Care 12 Month Program

Overall Program Vision

The Palliative Care Enhanced Skills 12 Month Program at the University of Toronto is accredited by the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC). The overall goals of the program are:(1) to provide physicians with added competency in the area of palliative care and prepare them to provide primary and consultant palliative care services; and(2) to provide training for physicians who intend to pursue academic careers in palliative care.

Program and Application Eligibility

Funding: Ministry of Health

Those who are currently enrolled as a PGY2 in a Canadian Family Medicine Residency Program at the time of application.

*Residents who are in or have completed an RCPSC accredited residency program will need to apply through CaRMS. Please contact the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto for more information.

Funding: Ministry of Health Re-entry*

Practicing physicians (CCFP)Applicants must apply directly through the Ministry of Health Re-entry program. Please visit 2017-2018 Re-Entry Program for more information on eligibility requirements.

Sponsored Visa Trainees

This program accepts sponsored visa trainee applicants* from countries with a current training agreement with the University of Toronto Post MD Education Office. Sponsored visa applicants from the following countries are eligible to apply: Bahrain, Dominica, Kuwait, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

A longitudinal, three-month, half-day clinic is also a part of the program. This ambulatory clinic occurs at either the Odette Cancer Centre or Princess Margaret Hospital and allows residents the opportunity to see new consults, create a management plan and follow individuals over time. Trainees see patients independently and are also observed. Feedback is provided on clinical judgement and management plans, along with verbal and written communication skills.

Unique Program Requirements

The program has a strong academic component centered around protected half-day sessions on Thursday mornings. This includes weekly seminars on key topics, journal clubs, and complex case rounds. Trainees are responsible for presenting at one journal club and one complex case round during the year. In addition, we have a day-long communication workshop, and monthly national webinars on core topics. Residents are required to complete a scholarly project, which may have a research, education, or quality improvement focus. Finally, there is a longitudinal resident wellness curriculum

To Apply

Note that the application process for the Palliative Care Enhanced Skills 12 Month Program has been harmonized with that of the Palliative Care Enhanced Skills 6 Month Program. Please view the Palliative Care Enhanced Skills 6 Month Program for further details.

Since the training objectives of these two programs overlap, and in the past, many applicants from family medicine residency programs have chosen to apply to both programs, there will be one single process for applying to either or both of the Palliative Care (6 months and/or 12-months programs).

Please note that as part of the application process you will be asked to indicate if you are applying to the 6 months, 12 months or both Palliative Care Enhanced Skills Programs. If you are applying to BOTH programs you will be asked during the online application process to rank your preferred choice in your letter of intent.

Please read the program descriptions carefully before making this decision.